00:00Je suis Lili Douse et c'est Grand Voyager.
00:04Dans ma base, en Qatar, je voyage le monde à découvrir des places incroyables
00:09de culture, luxueur et d'adventure.
00:13J'ai rencontré les gens, j'ai l'écouté les flavors
00:16et j'ai l'écouté les moments qui font chaque destination unforgettable.
00:25Aujourd'hui, je voyage de Qatar à l'intérieur de l'Asie.
00:30Je suis dans un endroit où l'ancien temples stand side-by-side
00:33avec les modernes scénarios.
00:37Bienvenue à Thaïlande.
00:39Je suis ici à Bangkok,
00:41un endroit où l'ancien tradition meurt non-stop énergie,
00:45la couleur et la vie.
00:48J'ai commencé à Thaïlande's cultural heart
00:51avec Alex, de Thaï Tour Guides,
00:53meeting au Grand Palace,
00:54un symbol de royal history.
00:57Le Grand Palace compound
00:59et il y a un environnement 61 acres.
01:0261 acres ?
01:03Oui, 61 acres.
01:04Nous n'avons pas d'avoir 61 acres aujourd'hui.
01:06Nous visite les temples et les résidents.
01:10Il y a des résidents.
01:10Il y a des résidents.
01:11En 1782,
01:13le Grand Palace est un grand complexe
01:15de royal residences,
01:17ceremonial halls,
01:18gouvernement buildings
01:19et sacred temples.
01:21À son cœur,
01:22s'est le Temple
01:23de l'Emerald Buddha.
01:24Surrounded par ornate courtyards
01:26et l'intricate Thaï architecture.
01:28Les mosaiques
01:29telle leur propre histoire de change.
01:31Alex traces les patterns avec moi,
01:34expliquant comment le Temple's
01:35signature style
01:36developed over the centuries.
01:37takeaway des décorations
01:39à King Raman III,
01:40comme dans la ceranée.
01:42C'est-à-dire Saint-Ga,
01:44c'est de la terre,
01:44en chinoise,
01:45car nous importons.
01:47C'est-à-dire qu'ils changent.
01:48C'est-à-dire des décorations.
01:50D'ailleurs,
01:51les émeralds buddha
01:52est une émeritante
01:53allure,
01:54qui est notamment
01:55d'un gât-en-lèflerément.
01:57Dois-à
01:58-dire dans le complexe, Alex leads me à
02:01les résidents,
02:02un ancien mugn
02:03biens qui est la cathédale
02:03de thai royale.
02:04C'est le trône hall. Le trône hall, c'est la fonction pour quand on a la célébration,
02:10pour le king's birthday, le queen's birthday, et puis on a la big cérémonie,
02:14comme la coronation cérémonie.
02:15Leaving the palace behind, we head to the Chao Friar River
02:19et board a traditional long-tail boat.
02:21This historic river is the perfect way to see how old and new Bangkok collide.
02:27How long have people been living on the canal here in Thailand?
02:30Wow, generation to generation, about 500 years.
02:33Yeah, probably more than 500 years, yeah.
02:36Before roads, Bangkok ran on water.
02:39This natural waterway is connected to a vast network of man-made canals.
02:44After a scenic ride, the boat drops us near one of Bangkok's oldest royal temples.
02:49Its centrepiece is the Reclining Buddha,
02:52a 46-metre golden statue that dominates the entire hall.
03:12Our final stop is Bangkok's 24-hour flower market, bursting with bloom's central to Thai culture.
03:19We use a flower for offering, like the yellow one, the merry-gold,
03:24we use for offering the Hindu, Hindu god, and some flower, lotus flower, we use for offering the Buddha.
03:32Walking through the flower market is truly breathtaking, with every person you meet
03:37greeting you with kindness.
03:38I've had an incredible time exploring the city with Alex, but now it's time to head to my hotel.
03:47For this trip, I'm staying at the Four Seasons Bangkok,
03:50a five-star hotel right on the banks of the Chow Friar River.
03:55From the moment you arrive, the resort surrounds you with a perfect blend of modern elegance and traditional Thai charm.
04:03Bangkok might move fast, but here time flows like the river.
04:07Peaceful, elegant and full of Thai hospitality.
04:11To kick my day into high gear, I've signed up for a Thai kickboxing class in the hotel's state-of
04:17-the-art gym.
04:19After the instructor wraps my hands, we dive straight into an intense session.
04:24Learning the fundamentals of Thailand's national sport, from punches and kicks to using my knees for defense.
04:31There's definitely a lot to learn, but after some trial and error,
04:35everything clicks and I'm finally able to string the movements together.
04:42After a demanding workout, I've booked a traditional Thai massage in the hotel's spa.
04:47It's a great place to relax and reset.
04:50A traditional Thai massage is both energizing and deeply restorative.
04:55Unlike oil-based massages, it uses rhythmic pressure, assisted stretching and gentle joint movements to release tension.
05:06To round out the hotel's luxury experience, I stop for lunch at one of its five on-site restaurants,
05:12Palmier by Guillaume Gelio.
05:14It's the perfect place to slow down and watch the world drift by before heading back into the energy of
05:20the bustling city.
05:23To explore more of Bangkok, I'm meeting with Wat from Must Try Bangkok Tours.
05:28We are heading out on a bike ride around the capital.
05:32The best way to go around is with a bicycle, because you can go in a small alley, see a
05:36hidden way,
05:36and you can stop anywhere you want it to.
05:38We set off through some local back streets, before cycling our way to the river,
05:42where Wat explains more about how Bangkok has evolved over time.
05:47At what we are right now, it's old Bangkok. Over there, there's a new Bangkok.
05:53And how long ago was old Bangkok developed and then the new one?
05:57Bangkok, old Bangkok began around 250 to 280 years ago, and new Bangkok is around 150 to 180 years ago.
06:06We cycle along the river to our first stop, a fifth-generation curry noodle spot with hardly any seating.
06:14Locals gather outside, drawn by the food, not the frills.
06:18The noodle itself is an Asian culture, from a thousand of years.
06:23But curry, actually from India, but chilli, actually from body to Thailand or to Asia by Portuguese,
06:32but are from South America, from Mexico.
06:37Wow, so all around the world, it's very international.
06:41We then set off through some small streets and narrow roads,
06:44where Wat brings me to try some local street food, and explains why this is so popular in Thailand.
06:51So food here in Thailand, I serve small portions.
06:55It's to decide to make people keep eating and eating and eating.
06:59Firstly, we try some delicious and unique fruits, starting with mangosteen, moving to jackfruit, and even longan.
07:06Everything tastes so sweet and delicious.
07:09It's like candy. It's like eating a sweet.
07:13Next up, we try one of Thailand's most famous desserts, mango sticky rice.
07:19It's every bit as good as you'd expect, with the perfect balance of sweetness and bright, tangy flavour.
07:26We hop back on our bicycles and head to a calm riverside cafe.
07:30So yeah, how do you like it?
07:32I had such an incredible time. The bicycles are the best way to see as much of the authentic side
07:38of Thailand.
07:39And you can see how local people are living with a calm, slow and peaceful life.
07:45Having experienced the many sides of Bangkok, it's time to venture beyond the inner city for my final discoveries.
07:53For the next part of my journey, I'm exploring another canal in Thailand.
07:57I'm meeting Joy from Thai tour guide.
08:00Welcome, Lily.
08:01Hi, Lily.
08:03It's Joy. Swatika.
08:04Swatika.
08:05Enjoy. Now you can see now, this is the pier of the floating market.
08:09You can see the old board, the junk.
08:12Before we go by, like the trading, everything we put in the junk like this.
08:18I then learn how Thai people traditionally carried goods to and from their boats.
08:22A centuries-old method that relies entirely on balance.
08:27Joy leads me to board a boat to reach the floating market.
08:45It truly is a sight to behold, with so many vendors offering an array of foods and goods.
08:54Floating along the canals in Thailand, you really feel together with the people.
08:58This is their community where they sell goods and smile.
09:03They make you feel at home.
09:05Next, we explore the Make Long train market, one of the most unique markets in the world.
09:10When the train rolls through, stores are quickly pulled back, then reopened once it passes,
09:16offering a fascinating glimpse into local life and commerce.
09:20The energy in Thailand is electric, but people at the same time are so kind, so peaceful, so relaxed.
09:28The contrast is breathtaking.
09:32Joy walks me through the market, stopping to show me some of the delicious goods on offer,
09:36from deep-fried banana to Thai coffee.
09:40It is delicious.
09:43As my journey draws to a close, Joy guides me to a truly special part of Thailand,
09:49the historic city of Ayutthaya.
09:52Now we are at Ayutthaya, the second capital city of Thailand.
09:57You can see so many temples, 500 temples at Ayutthaya Province.
10:06Founded in 1350, Ayutthaya was once one of the largest and most prosperous cities in Southeast Asia.
10:14The city thrived as a centre of trade, culture and diplomacy for over four centuries.
10:20Today, Ayutthaya is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for its stunning temple ruins,
10:25that offer a glimpse into Thailand's rich past.
10:29We start by exploring one of the city's older sites.
10:32This temple is in the early Ayutthaya period, about 1374.
10:381374 has been 600 years already.
10:41Walking through the temple, you can almost step into the past,
10:45picturing the people who once filled these sacred spaces.
10:49Next, we head to the largest temple in the ancient royal palace.
11:08It's three towering stupas once housed the ashes of Ayutthaya's kings,
11:13making it a symbol of both religious devotion and royal power.
11:17Now you can see this building we call the building for the place of the high standing Buddha,
11:2416 meter high. Yeah, 16 meter high made by the gold, 347 kilogram gold.
11:31Ayutthaya is truly breathtaking and seeing it up close is a fitting way to end my journey here.
11:39Thailand is a country where modern skyscrapers rise amongst ancient temples.
11:45There's so much to this country, from the incredible food,
11:49the smiles on people's faces, and of course, the culture.
11:53But now, time for my next adventure.
Commentaires